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MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

NCJ Number
48674
Journal
Hospital and Community Psychiatry Volume: 27 Issue: 10 Dated: (OCTOBER 1976) Pages: 716-719
Author(s)
H C MODLIN; L PORTER; R E BENSON
Date Published
1976
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A SURVEY OF 26 COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS IN KANSAS, UNDERTAKEN TO ASSESS THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE CENTERS TO RESOLUTION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROBLEMS, IS DOCUMENTED.
Abstract
THE SURVEY EMPLOYED QUESTIONNAIRES, INTERVIEWS, AND SITE VISITS TO EVALUATE 21 RURAL AND 5 URBAN CENTERS. FINDINGS ARE SUMMARIZED RELATIVE TO THE CENTERS' CONSULTATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ABOUT CASES, PARTICIPATION IN IN TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR OFFICERS, AND CONSULTATION WITH POLICE OFFICIALS ON PERSONNEL PROGRAM, AND POLICY ISSUES, THE SURVEY FOUND THAT IN ALL LARGE COMMUNITIES SOME RECIPROCAL PROGRAMS HAVE DEVELOPED BETWEEN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS BUT THAT MEANINGFUL COLLABORATION IS RARE IN SMALL COMMUNITIES. JUVENILE COURTS, URBAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND COUNTY PROBATION OFFICERS ARE THE COMPONENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT APPEAR TO BE MOST RECEPTIVE TO COLLABORATION WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM. THE LEAST APPROACHABLE ARE RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND STATE PAROLE OFFICERS. THREE BASIC CONDITIONS APPEAR TO ACCOUNT FOR THE SUCCESS OF EFFECTIVE COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS: AN URBAN COMMUNITY SETTING; INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE BY STAFF MEMBERS FROM EACH SYSTEM; AND LOCATION (PHYSICAL AND FUNCTIONAL) OF THE PROGRAM WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. NO TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)